The league has hosted about 450 grassroots events in 10 Indian cities since 2008 and created a recreational league that has 6,000 players.

But the potential is much greater with about 600 million Indians under age 25, according to Yannick Colaco, managing director of NBA India.

"We want to grow our fan base through increasing participation, and we want to grow the game at a grassroots level," Colaco said. "Our focus is on India's youth, and we want to continue to expand access of the NBA through television and in digital platforms."

One way to achieve that is by bringing in 7-foot stars already familiar to viewers on live and taped telecasts. With the NBA's new TV deal with Sony's Multi Screen Media amping up exposure since 2012, the Heat have been a prime and popular attraction...

-- South Floroida Sun-Sentinel

No one is forecasting a comparable impact in India from the recent purchase of the Sacramento Kings by Mumbai-born Vivek Ranadive, who was previously part owner of the Golden State Warriors.

India has yet to produce an NBA player, though nations such as Sudan, Senegal and Turkey have. During a visit to Mumbai in April, outgoing-NBA Commissioner David Stern predicted that could change within the next five years.

One possibility is 17-year-old Satnam Singh, already 7-feet-2 and honing his skills at the IMG Sports Academy in Bradenton.

"I don't think it's necessary to have an NBA player from India in order to grow the game. It would serve as an additional catalyst," Colaco said.

Yeah, but unfortunately India is so shizzy at hoops. My people's got the smarts, but not the athletic genes. A billion people, and the national team puts out that nonsense team lol. I could make that team (srs).